Open house planned
Spudland Alpaca’s annual Farm Day will be held on Sunday, Aug. 30, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. They now have 50 alpacas, including eight new babies! Stop by to see them and check out the products for sale in the store. They are located on the Bubar Road in Blaine.
Hunter safety course
There will be a hunter safety course at Central Aroostook High School on Sept. 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16 from 6-8:30 each night. The final test will be on the 16th. Students ages 10-12 must be accompanied by an adult. The instructor is Roger Shaw. Please call Kathy at 425-3771 to register. There is no fee for the course.
Rotary Club
The Mars Hill Rotary Club met at the Aroostook Health Center on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 6:30 a.m. The guest speaker was Jay McCrum, director of County Super Spuds and Penobscot – McCrum Frozen Foods.
The family company had provided product for Penobscot Frozen Foods in Belfast for many years before purchasing the facility in 2004. The company also purchased a 1,000-acre farm in the Rumford area that same year. Jay is managing the Belfast facility, his brother, David, is handling the Rumford property and their children and brother-in-law, Bob Lunney, are managing the Aroostook County end of the business.
They employ around 180 people throughout the state, from the Washburn facility where potatoes are washed and sorted, to the Belfast plant where over 80 different products are processed and packaged. The company sends product throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan. They utilize product from over 30 growers throughout the state of Maine.
The frozen product line includes mashed potatoes, potato skins, potato wedges and specialty potatoes. They also supply products for military use as well as for the New York City school system.
The company is continually working to help develop products that will have a longer shelf life. In addition to better storage facilities, this now includes testing products in the field before harvesting begins.
Jay believes that there are many opportunities for natural products from Maine to be marketed and sold within the United States and around the world.
Library happenings
On Wednesdays, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., the library will hold cribbage games, so bring your friends and your boards. The more the merrier. This has been changed from Saturday mornings, at least through the summer and fall.
If there is a topic that someone is interested in and would like to have a program on, please contact the library at 429-9625 or Tammy DeLong, trustee, at 425-1007.
The library is interested in offering computer skills programs for community members. Please call the library for information or to sign up for a class.
If your group is looking for a meeting space, the library is also pleased to offer free meeting spaces. Please call the library to reserve a space today.
Knit or crochet on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 – 7:30 at the library. Enjoy each other’s company while you work on your chosen project.
The library is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. – noon. For information, call 429-9625 or go to their new Web site: www.wtahansenlibrary.org.
Bridgewater Historical Association
There is live music on Thursday nights from 6 – 9 p.m. where you can practice your dance moves. Thursday night is a jam session, so if you want to join in, call Amanda at the Town Office.
All events take place at the BHA Hall on Main Street. The BHA would like to thank everyone for their support. For more information about these events and others, contact Amanda at the Town Office at 429-9856.
Bridgewater Community Club
The Bridgewater Community Club continues to meet on the last Thursday of each month with some exceptions. All are welcome. For more information, contact Pat Lenentine at 429-9444.
Bridgewater Creative Crafting
On the first and third Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Community Center in Bridgewater, crafters are encouraged to join together to work on various projects. For more information, please contact Chris Finemore at 425-6606 or Melody Goff at 420-4002.
Tomi Henderson is the correspondent for Mars Hill, Blaine, Bridgewater and Westfield. She can be reached at 429-9126 or e-mail tomihen@yahoo.com.
Photo courtesy of Tomi Henderson
The Water Balloon toss was a popular game during the Westfield Jubilee on Saturday, Aug. 22. Kids wanted to be the one holding the balloon when time was called, as they got to choose whether to get their head or feet wet. Most wanted their head soaked — so they could cool down!!! (More Jubilee photos will run in a future edition.)
